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Arner A, Ettinger A, Blaser BW, Schmid B, Jeremias I, Rostam N, Binder-Blaser V. In vivo monitoring of leukemia-niche interactions in a zebrafish xenograft model. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0309415. [PMID: 39213296 PMCID: PMC11364250 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of malignancy in children. ALL prognosis after initial diagnosis is generally good; however, patients suffering from relapse have a poor outcome. The tumor microenvironment is recognized as an important contributor to relapse, yet the cell-cell interactions involved are complex and difficult to study in traditional experimental models. In the present study, we established an innovative larval zebrafish xenotransplantation model, that allows the analysis of leukemic cells (LCs) within an orthotopic niche using time-lapse microscopic and flow cytometric approaches. LCs homed, engrafted and proliferated within the hematopoietic niche at the time of transplant, the caudal hematopoietic tissue (CHT). A specific dissemination pattern of LCs within the CHT was recorded, as they extravasated over time and formed clusters close to the dorsal aorta. Interactions of LCs with macrophages and endothelial cells could be quantitatively characterized. This zebrafish model will allow the quantitative analysis of LCs in a functional and complex microenvironment, to study mechanisms of niche mediated leukemogenesis, leukemia maintenance and relapse development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Arner
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Ettinger
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Centre Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Bradley Wayne Blaser
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Bettina Schmid
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Irmela Jeremias
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany
- Research Unit Apoptosis in Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Helmholtz Centre Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Nadia Rostam
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany
- Department of Biology, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
| | - Vera Binder-Blaser
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU), Munich, Germany
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2
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Verma SK, Nandi A, Sinha A, Patel P, Mohanty S, Jha E, Jena S, Kumari P, Ghosh A, Jerman I, Chouhan RS, Dutt A, Samal SK, Mishra YK, Varma RS, Panda PK, Kaushik NK, Singh D, Suar M. The posterity of Zebrafish in paradigm of in vivo molecular toxicological profiling. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 171:116160. [PMID: 38237351 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The aggrandised advancement in utility of advanced day-to-day materials and nanomaterials has raised serious concern on their biocompatibility with human and other biotic members. In last few decades, understanding of toxicity of these materials has been given the centre stage of research using many in vitro and in vivo models. Zebrafish (Danio rerio), a freshwater fish and a member of the minnow family has garnered much attention due to its distinct features, which make it an important and frequently used animal model in various fields of embryology and toxicological studies. Given that fertilization and development of zebrafish eggs take place externally, they serve as an excellent model organism for studying early developmental stages. Moreover, zebrafish possess a comparable genetic composition to humans and share almost 70% of their genes with mammals. This particular model organism has become increasingly popular, especially for developmental research. Moreover, it serves as a link between in vitro studies and in vivo analysis in mammals. It is an appealing choice for vertebrate research, when employing high-throughput methods, due to their small size, swift development, and relatively affordable laboratory setup. This small vertebrate has enhanced comprehension of pathobiology and drug toxicity. This review emphasizes on the recent developments in toxicity screening and assays, and the new insights gained about the toxicity of drugs through these assays. Specifically, the cardio, neural, and, hepatic toxicology studies inferred by applications of nanoparticles have been highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh K Verma
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India.
| | - Aditya Nandi
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Adrija Sinha
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Paritosh Patel
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India; Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, 01897, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Ealisha Jha
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Snehasmita Jena
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Puja Kumari
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno 61137, Czech Republic
| | - Aishee Ghosh
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Ivan Jerman
- National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Raghuraj Singh Chouhan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ateet Dutt
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Materiales, UNAM, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Shailesh Kumar Samal
- Unit of Immunology and Chronic Disease, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yogendra Kumar Mishra
- Mads Clausen Institute, NanoSYD, University of Southern Denmark, Alsion 2, Sønderborg DK-6400, Denmark
| | - Rajender S Varma
- Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation (CxI), Technical University of Liberec (TUL), Studentská 1402/2, Liberec 1 461 17, Czech Republic
| | - Pritam Kumar Panda
- Condensed Matter Theory Group, Materials Theory Division, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nagendra Kumar Kaushik
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, 01897, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Deobrat Singh
- Condensed Matter Theory Group, Materials Theory Division, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Mrutyunjay Suar
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, India.
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3
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Pernot S, Tomé M, Galeano-Otero I, Evrard S, Badiola I, Delom F, Fessart D, Smani T, Siegfried G, Villoutreix BO, Khatib AM. Sulconazole inhibits PD-1 expression in immune cells and cancer cells malignant phenotype through NF-κB and calcium activity repression. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1278630. [PMID: 38250065 PMCID: PMC10796450 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1278630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The overexpression of the immunoinhibitory receptor programmed death-1 (PD1) on T-cells is involved in immune evasion in cancer. The use of anti-PD-1/PDL-1 strategy has deeply changed the therapies of cancers and patient survival. However, their efficacy diverges greatly along with tumor type and patient populations. Thereby, novel treatments are needed to interfere with the anti-tumoral immune responses and propose an adjunct therapy. In the current study, we found that the antifungal drug Sulconazole (SCZ) inhibits PD-1 expression on activated PBMCs and T cells at the RNA and protein levels. SCZ repressed NF-κB and calcium signaling, both, involved in the induction of PD-1. Further analysis revealed cancer cells treatment with SCZ inhibited their proliferation, and migration and ability to mediate tumor growth in zebrafish embryos. SCZ found also to inhibit calcium mobilization in cancer cells. These results suggest the SCZ therapeutic potential used alone or as adjunct strategy to prevent T-cell exhaustion and promotes cancer cell malignant phenotype repression in order to improve tumor eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Pernot
- Reprograming tumor activitY and associaTed MicroenvironmEnt (Rytme), Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC)-UMR1312 Inserm, Université of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
- Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Mercedes Tomé
- Reprograming tumor activitY and associaTed MicroenvironmEnt (Rytme), Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC)-UMR1312 Inserm, Université of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Isabel Galeano-Otero
- Reprograming tumor activitY and associaTed MicroenvironmEnt (Rytme), Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC)-UMR1312 Inserm, Université of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
| | - Serge Evrard
- Reprograming tumor activitY and associaTed MicroenvironmEnt (Rytme), Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC)-UMR1312 Inserm, Université of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
- Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Iker Badiola
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Frederic Delom
- Reprograming tumor activitY and associaTed MicroenvironmEnt (Rytme), Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC)-UMR1312 Inserm, Université of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
- Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Delphine Fessart
- Reprograming tumor activitY and associaTed MicroenvironmEnt (Rytme), Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC)-UMR1312 Inserm, Université of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
- Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Tarik Smani
- Group of Cardiovascular Pathophysiology, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, University Hospital of Virgen del Rocío/University of Seville/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Geraldine Siegfried
- Reprograming tumor activitY and associaTed MicroenvironmEnt (Rytme), Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC)-UMR1312 Inserm, Université of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
- Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
| | - Bruno O. Villoutreix
- Integrative Computational Pharmacology and Data Mining, INSERM UMR 1141, Rob-ert-Debré Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Abdel-Majid Khatib
- Reprograming tumor activitY and associaTed MicroenvironmEnt (Rytme), Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC)-UMR1312 Inserm, Université of Bordeaux, Pessac, France
- Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France
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4
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Aida A, Yuswan K, Kawai Y, Hasegawa K, Nakajima YI, Kuranaga E. Drosophila innate immunity suppresses the survival of xenografted mammalian tumor cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12334. [PMID: 37518191 PMCID: PMC10387472 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38489-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) is an emerging tool established in immunodeficient vertebrate models to assess individualized treatments for cancer patients. Current xenograft models are deficient in adaptive immune systems. However, the precise role of the innate immunity in the xenograft models is unknown. With conserved signaling pathways and established genetic tools, Drosophila has contributed to the understanding of the mechanism of tumor growth as well as tumor-host interactions for decades, making it a promising candidate model for studying whether or not the hosts' innate immunity can accommodate transplanted human tumor cells. Here we show initial observations that assess the behavior and impact of several human tumor cell lines when transplanted into Drosophila. We found that some injected cell lines persisted for a longer duration and reduced hosts' lifespan. In particular, the human lung cancer cell line A549 were observed adjacent to the fly host tissues. We examined two factors that affect the survivability of cancer cells: (1) the optimal temperature of each cell line and (2) the innate immunity of Drosophila hosts. Especially, transplanted human tumor cells survived longer in immunodeficient flies, suggesting that the host innate immune system impedes the growth of xenografted cells. Our attempts for xenografting fly models thus provide necessary steps to overcome for establishing PDX cancer models using invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayaka Aida
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kevin Yuswan
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yoichi Kawai
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Keita Hasegawa
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yu-Ichiro Nakajima
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Erina Kuranaga
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan.
- Laboratory for Histogenetic Dynamics, Graduate School and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8304, Japan.
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Zizioli D, Ferretti S, Tiecco G, Mignani L, Monti E, Castelli F, Quiros-Roldan E, Zanella I. Comparison of Efavirenz and Doravirine Developmental Toxicity in an Embryo Animal Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11664. [PMID: 37511423 PMCID: PMC10380689 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past, one of the most widely used non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) in first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) of HIV infection was efavirenz (EFV), which is already used as a cost-effective treatment in developing countries due to its efficacy, tolerability, and availability. However, EFV also demonstrates several adverse effects, like hepatotoxicity, altered lipid profile, neuropsychological symptoms, and behavioral effects in children after in utero exposure. In 2018, another NNRTI, doravirine (DOR), was approved due to its similar efficacy but better safety profile. Preclinical safety studies demonstrated that DOR is not genotoxic and exhibits no developmental toxicity or effects on fertility in rats. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos have been widely accepted as a vertebrate model for pharmacological and developmental studies. We used zebrafish embryos as an in vivo model to investigate the developmental toxicity of DOR compared to EFV. After exposure of the embryos to the drugs from the gastrula stage up to different developmental stages (30 embryos for each arm, in three independent experiments), we assessed their survival, morphology, hatching rate, apoptosis in the developing head, locomotion behavior, vasculature development, and neutral lipid distribution. Overall, DOR showed a better safety profile than EFV in our model. Therapeutic and supra-therapeutic doses of DOR induced very low mortality [survival rates: 92, 90, 88, 88, and 81% at 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 μM, respectively, at 24 h post fecundation (hpf), and 88, 85, 88, 89, and 75% at the same doses, respectively, at 48 hpf] and mild morphological alterations compared to EFV exposure also in the sub-therapeutic ranges (survival rates: 80, 77, 69, 63, and 44% at 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 μM, respectively, at 24 hpf and 72, 70, 63, 52, and 0% at the same doses, respectively, at 48 hpf). Further, DOR only slightly affected the hatching rate at supra-therapeutic doses (97, 98, 96, 87, and 83% at 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 μM, respectively, at 72 hpf), while EFV already strongly reduced hatching at sub-therapeutic doses (83, 49, 11, 0, and 0% at 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 μM, respectively, at the same time endpoint). Both DOR at therapeutic doses and most severely EFV at sub-therapeutic doses enhanced apoptosis in the developing head during crucial phases of embryo neurodevelopment and perturbed the locomotor behavior. Furthermore, EFV strongly affected angiogenesis and disturbed neutral lipid homeostasis even at sub-therapeutic doses compared to DOR at therapeutic concentrations. Our findings in zebrafish embryos add further data confirming the higher safety of DOR with respect to EFV regarding embryo development, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and lipid metabolism. Further studies are needed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the better pharmacological safety profile of DOR, and further human studies are required to confirm these results in the zebrafish animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Zizioli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Ferretti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tiecco
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luca Mignani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Eugenio Monti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Castelli
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Eugenia Quiros-Roldan
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Isabella Zanella
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Diagnostic Department, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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Singhal SS, Garg R, Mohanty A, Garg P, Ramisetty SK, Mirzapoiazova T, Soldi R, Sharma S, Kulkarni P, Salgia R. Recent Advancement in Breast Cancer Research: Insights from Model Organisms-Mouse Models to Zebrafish. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112961. [PMID: 37296923 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models have been utilized for decades to investigate the causes of human diseases and provide platforms for testing novel therapies. Indeed, breakthrough advances in genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models and xenograft transplantation technologies have dramatically benefited in elucidating the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of multiple diseases, including cancer. The currently available GEM models have been employed to assess specific genetic changes that underlay many features of carcinogenesis, including variations in tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. In addition, mice models render it easier to locate tumor biomarkers for the recognition, prognosis, and surveillance of cancer progression and recurrence. Furthermore, the patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model, which involves the direct surgical transfer of fresh human tumor samples to immunodeficient mice, has contributed significantly to advancing the field of drug discovery and therapeutics. Here, we provide a synopsis of mouse and zebrafish models used in cancer research as well as an interdisciplinary 'Team Medicine' approach that has not only accelerated our understanding of varied aspects of carcinogenesis but has also been instrumental in developing novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharad S Singhal
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Rachana Garg
- Department of Surgery, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Atish Mohanty
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Pankaj Garg
- Department of Chemistry, GLA University, Mathura 281406, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sravani Keerthi Ramisetty
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Tamara Mirzapoiazova
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Raffaella Soldi
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85338, USA
| | - Sunil Sharma
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85338, USA
| | - Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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Hawkins MR, Wingert RA. Zebrafish as a Model to Study Retinoic Acid Signaling in Development and Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041180. [PMID: 37189798 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) is a metabolite of vitamin A (retinol) that plays various roles in development to influence differentiation, patterning, and organogenesis. RA also serves as a crucial homeostatic regulator in adult tissues. The role of RA and its associated pathways are well conserved from zebrafish to humans in both development and disease. This makes the zebrafish a natural model for further interrogation into the functions of RA and RA-associated maladies for the sake of basic research, as well as human health. In this review, we explore both foundational and recent studies using zebrafish as a translational model for investigating RA from the molecular to the organismal scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Hawkins
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Zebrafish Research, Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases, Warren Center for Drug Discovery, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Rebecca A Wingert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Zebrafish Research, Boler-Parseghian Center for Rare and Neglected Diseases, Warren Center for Drug Discovery, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
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8
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Gómez-Gallegos AA, Ramírez-Vidal L, Becerril-Rico J, Pérez-Islas E, Hernandez-Peralta ZJ, Toledo-Guzmán ME, García-Carrancá A, Langley E, Hernández-Guerrero A, López-Casillas F, Herrera-Goepfert R, Oñate-Ocaña LF, Ortiz-Sánchez E. CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ gastric cancer stem cells predict tumor progression and metastasis: clinical and experimental evidence. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:16. [PMID: 36737794 PMCID: PMC9898964 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03241-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Specific and thorough identification of cancer cell subsets with higher tumorigenicity and chemoresistance, such as cancer stem cells (CSCs), could lead to the development of new and promising therapeutic targets. For better CSC identification, a complete or extended surface marker phenotype is needed to provide increased specificity for new cell targeting approaches. Our goal is to identify and characterize a putative extended phenotype for CSCs derived from patients with GC before treatment, as well as to evaluate its clinical value. In addition, we aim to ensure that cells with this phenotype have stemness and self-renewal capabilities. METHODS This is a cohort study including 127 treatment-naïve patients with GC who attended the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología. Multiparametric flow cytometry analysis was performed to determine the extended phenotype of cells derived from gastric biopsies. The tumorigenic capability of cells identified in patients was assessed in a zebrafish model. RESULTS CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ cells were present in all treatment-naïve patients included, with a median abundance of 1.16% (0.57-1.89%). The percentage of CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ cells was categorized as high or low using 1.19% as the cutoff for the CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ cell subset. Additionally, a higher TNM stage correlated with a higher percentage of CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ cells (Rho coefficient 0.369; p < 0.0001). We also demonstrated that a higher percentage of CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ cells was positively associated with metastasis. The metastatic potential of these cells was confirmed in a zebrafish model. Ultimately, under our conditions, we conclude that CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ cells are true gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs). CONCLUSION The CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ cells present in tissue samples from patients are true GCSCs. This extended phenotype results in better and more specific characterization of these highly tumorigenic cells. The relative quantification of CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ cells has potential clinical value, as these cells are associated with metastatic disease, making their presence an additional prognostic marker and possibly a target for the design of new antineoplastic treatments in the era of precision oncology. Overall, the extended CD24+CD44+CD54+EpCAM+ phenotype of GCSCs could support their isolation for the study of their stemness mechanisms, leading to the identification of better molecular targets for the development of both new therapeutic approaches such as oncoimmunotherapy and new diagnostic and clinical prognostic strategies for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel A. Gómez-Gallegos
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio A, 1° Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, C.P. 04510 Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, Mexico ,grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lizbeth Ramírez-Vidal
- grid.9486.30000 0001 2159 0001Posgrado de Ciencias Biomédicas. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jared Becerril-Rico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio A, 1° Piso, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, C.P. 04510 Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, Mexico ,grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Pérez-Islas
- grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Zuly J. Hernandez-Peralta
- grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mariel E. Toledo-Guzmán
- grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alejandro García-Carrancá
- grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico ,grid.9486.30000 0001 2159 0001Unidad de Investigación en Cáncer, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Langley
- grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Angélica Hernández-Guerrero
- grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Unidad de Endoscopia, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fernando López-Casillas
- grid.9486.30000 0001 2159 0001Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Roberto Herrera-Goepfert
- grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis F. Oñate-Ocaña
- grid.419167.c0000 0004 1777 1207Subdirección de Investigación Clínica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Ortiz-Sánchez
- Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Av. San Fernando 22, Colonia Seccion XVI, Tlalpan, 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
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9
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Al-Hamaly MA, Turner LT, Rivera-Martinez A, Rodriguez A, Blackburn JS. Zebrafish Cancer Avatars: A Translational Platform for Analyzing Tumor Heterogeneity and Predicting Patient Outcomes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2288. [PMID: 36768609 PMCID: PMC9916713 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing number of available anti-cancer drugs presents a challenge for oncologists, who must choose the most effective treatment for the patient. Precision cancer medicine relies on matching a drug with a tumor's molecular profile to optimize the therapeutic benefit. However, current precision medicine approaches do not fully account for intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Different mutation profiles and cell behaviors within a single heterogeneous tumor can significantly impact therapy response and patient outcomes. Patient-derived avatar models recapitulate a patient's tumor in an animal or dish and provide the means to functionally assess heterogeneity's impact on drug response. Mouse xenograft and organoid avatars are well-established, but the time required to generate these models is not practical for clinical decision-making. Zebrafish are emerging as a time-efficient and cost-effective cancer avatar model. In this review, we highlight recent developments in zebrafish cancer avatar models and discuss the unique features of zebrafish that make them ideal for the interrogation of cancer heterogeneity and as part of precision cancer medicine pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majd A. Al-Hamaly
- Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Logan T. Turner
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, USA
| | | | - Analiz Rodriguez
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Jessica S. Blackburn
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40356, USA
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10
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Oberkersch RE, Lidonnici J, Santoro MM. How to Generate a Vascular-Labelled Transgenic Zebrafish Model to Study Tumor Angiogenesis and Extravasation. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2572:191-202. [PMID: 36161418 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2703-7_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The use of transgenic animals carrying exogenous DNA integrated in their genome is a routine in modern-day laboratories. Nowadays, the zebrafish system represents the most useful tool for transgenesis studies mainly due to easy accessibility and manipulation of the eggs, which are produced in high numbers and over a relatively short generation time. The zebrafish transgenic technology is very straightforward when coupled with angiogenesis studies allowing easy in vivo observation of the vertebrate embryonic vasculature. Here, we describe the most common technique to generate vascular-labelled transgenic zebrafish embryos and their applications to study tumor angiogenesis and visualize tumor extravasation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana E Oberkersch
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Cancer Metabolism, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Jacopo Lidonnici
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Cancer Metabolism, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Massimo M Santoro
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Cancer Metabolism, Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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11
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Li X, Li M. The application of zebrafish patient-derived xenograft tumor models in the development of antitumor agents. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:212-236. [PMID: 36029178 DOI: 10.1002/med.21924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The cost of antitumor drug development is enormous, yet the clinical outcomes are less than satisfactory. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop effective drug screening methods that enable accurate, rapid, and high-throughput discovery of lead compounds in the process of preclinical antitumor drug research. An effective solution is to use the patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor animal models, which are applicable for the elucidation of tumor pathogenesis and the preclinical testing of novel antitumor compounds. As a promising screening model organism, zebrafish has been widely applied in the construction of the PDX tumor model and the discovery of antineoplastic agents. Herein, we systematically survey the recent cutting-edge advances in zebrafish PDX models (zPDX) for studies of pathogenesis mechanisms and drug screening. In addition, the techniques used in the construction of zPDX are summarized. The advantages and limitations of the zPDX are also discussed in detail. Finally, the prospects of zPDX in drug discovery, translational medicine, and clinical precision medicine treatment are well presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Minyong Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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12
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Kshitiz, Afzal J, Suhail Y, Chang H, Hubbi ME, Hamidzadeh A, Goyal R, Liu Y, Sun P, Nicoli S, Dang CV, Levchenko A. Lactate-dependent chaperone-mediated autophagy induces oscillatory HIF-1α activity promoting proliferation of hypoxic cells. Cell Syst 2022; 13:1048-1064.e7. [PMID: 36462504 PMCID: PMC10012408 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Response to hypoxia is a highly regulated process, but little is known about single-cell responses to hypoxic conditions. Using fluorescent reporters of hypoxia response factor-1α (HIF-1α) activity in various cancer cell lines and patient-derived cancer cells, we show that hypoxic responses in individual cancer cells can be highly dynamic and variable. These responses fall into three classes, including oscillatory activity. We identify a molecular mechanism that can account for all three response classes, implicating reactive-oxygen-species-dependent chaperone-mediated autophagy of HIF-1α in a subset of cells. Furthermore, we show that oscillatory response is modulated by the abundance of extracellular lactate in a quorum-sensing-like mechanism. We show that oscillatory HIF-1α activity rescues hypoxia-mediated inhibition of cell division and causes broad suppression of genes downregulated in cancers and activation of genes upregulated in many cancers, suggesting a mechanism for aggressive growth in a subset of hypoxic tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kshitiz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA; Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
| | - Junaid Afzal
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Yasir Suhail
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA; Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Hao Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, Orange, CT 06477, USA
| | - Maimon E Hubbi
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Archer Hamidzadeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, Orange, CT 06477, USA
| | - Ruchi Goyal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA; Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, Orange, CT 06477, USA
| | - Yamin Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Peng Sun
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Stefania Nicoli
- Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Chi V Dang
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY 10016, USA; The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Andre Levchenko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Yale Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, Orange, CT 06477, USA.
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13
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Cakan-Akdogan G, Ersoz E, Sozer SC, Gelinci E. An in vivo zebrafish model reveals circulating tumor cell targeting capacity of serum albumin nanoparticles. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2022.103658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
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14
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Basheer F, Dhar P, Samarasinghe RM. Zebrafish Models of Paediatric Brain Tumours. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:9920. [PMID: 36077320 PMCID: PMC9456103 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Paediatric brain cancer is the second most common childhood cancer and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Despite significant advancements in the treatment modalities and improvements in the 5-year survival rate, it leaves long-term therapy-associated side effects in paediatric patients. Addressing these impairments demands further understanding of the molecularity and heterogeneity of these brain tumours, which can be demonstrated using different animal models of paediatric brain cancer. Here we review the use of zebrafish as potential in vivo models for paediatric brain tumour modelling, as well as catalogue the currently available zebrafish models used to study paediatric brain cancer pathophysiology, and discuss key findings, the unique attributes that these models add, current challenges and therapeutic significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiza Basheer
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
- Instiute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Poshmaal Dhar
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
- Instiute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Rasika M. Samarasinghe
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
- Instiute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
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15
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Pro-Angiogenetic Effects of Purified Extracts from Helix aspersa during Zebrafish Development. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:3364-3377. [PMID: 36005128 PMCID: PMC9406997 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44080232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Helix aspersa is a species of land snail belonging to the Helicidae family, widespread in the Mediterranean and continental area up to Northern Europe. In some areas it is appreciated as a food, but is mostly considered a parasite of gardens and cultivated fields. The mucus of Helix aspersa has found multiple applications in the cosmetic and health fields. In the present study, we investigated for the first time the angiogenetic properties of purified extracts from Helix aspersa using a transgenic zebrafish line Tg (kdrl:EGFP). The angiogenesis induced by purified snail extracts was demonstrated by their capability to increase the three well-established parameters of angiogenesis: generation of intersegmental vessels, modeling of caudal venous plexus, and formation of sub-intestinal venous plexus. The effects appeared to be mediated by the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, being prevented by pretreatment of embryos with the selective VEGF receptor antagonist SU5416, and supported by the increased VEGF mRNA levels found in snail-extract-treated embryos. Insufficient vascular supply is underlined by low VEGF signaling, primarily because of its indispensable role in preventing capillary loss. Our findings might have a pharmacological impact by counteracting VEGF hypofunction and promoting angiogenesis to maintain adequate microvascular and vascular density in normal and suffering tissues and organs.
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16
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Carra S, Gaudenzi G, Dicitore A, Cantone MC, Plebani A, Saronni D, Zappavigna S, Caraglia M, Candeo A, Bassi A, Persani L, Vitale G. Modeling Lung Carcinoids with Zebrafish Tumor Xenograft. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8126. [PMID: 35897702 PMCID: PMC9330857 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung carcinoids are neuroendocrine tumors that comprise well-differentiated typical (TCs) and atypical carcinoids (ACs). Preclinical models are indispensable for cancer drug screening since current therapies for advanced carcinoids are not curative. We aimed to develop a novel in vivo model of lung carcinoids based on the xenograft of lung TC (NCI-H835, UMC-11, and NCI-H727) and AC (NCI-H720) cell lines and patient-derived cell cultures in Tg(fli1a:EGFP)y1 zebrafish embryos. We exploited this platform to test the anti-tumor activity of sulfatinib. The tumorigenic potential of TC and AC implanted cells was evaluated by the quantification of tumor-induced angiogenesis and tumor cell migration as early as 24 h post-injection (hpi). The characterization of tumor-induced angiogenesis was performed in vivo and in real time, coupling the tumor xenograft with selective plane illumination microscopy on implanted zebrafish embryos. TC-implanted cells displayed a higher pro-angiogenic potential compared to AC cells, which inversely showed a relevant migratory behavior within 48 hpi. Sulfatinib inhibited tumor-induced angiogenesis, without affecting tumor cell spread in both TC and AC implanted embryos. In conclusion, zebrafish embryos implanted with TC and AC cells faithfully recapitulate the tumor behavior of human lung carcinoids and appear to be a promising platform for drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Carra
- Laboratory of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20100 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (L.P.)
| | - Germano Gaudenzi
- Laboratory of Geriatric and Oncologic Neuroendocrinology Research, IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20100 Milan, Italy; (G.G.); (M.C.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Alessandra Dicitore
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy; (A.D.); (D.S.)
| | - Maria Celeste Cantone
- Laboratory of Geriatric and Oncologic Neuroendocrinology Research, IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20100 Milan, Italy; (G.G.); (M.C.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Alice Plebani
- Laboratory of Geriatric and Oncologic Neuroendocrinology Research, IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20100 Milan, Italy; (G.G.); (M.C.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Davide Saronni
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy; (A.D.); (D.S.)
- PhD Program in Experimental Medicine, University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Zappavigna
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (S.Z.); (M.C.)
| | - Michele Caraglia
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (S.Z.); (M.C.)
- Laboratory of Molecular and Precision Oncology, Biogem scarl, 83031 Ariano Irpino, Italy
| | - Alessia Candeo
- Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Andrea Bassi
- Department of Physics, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Luca Persani
- Laboratory of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20100 Milan, Italy; (S.C.); (L.P.)
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy; (A.D.); (D.S.)
| | - Giovanni Vitale
- Laboratory of Geriatric and Oncologic Neuroendocrinology Research, IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20100 Milan, Italy; (G.G.); (M.C.C.); (A.P.)
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy; (A.D.); (D.S.)
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17
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Russo I, Sartor E, Fagotto L, Colombo A, Tiso N, Alaibac M. The Zebrafish model in dermatology: an update for clinicians. Discov Oncol 2022; 13:48. [PMID: 35713744 PMCID: PMC9206045 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-022-00511-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the zebrafish has been established as one of the most important model organisms for medical research. Several studies have proved that there is a high level of similarity between human and zebrafish genomes, which encourages the use of zebrafish as a model for understanding human genetic disorders, including cancer. Interestingly, zebrafish skin shows several similarities to human skin, suggesting that this model organism is particularly suitable for the study of neoplastic and inflammatory skin disorders. This paper appraises the specific characteristics of zebrafish skin and describes the major applications of the zebrafish model in dermatological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Russo
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Emma Sartor
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Fagotto
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Colombo
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Natascia Tiso
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Mauro Alaibac
- Unit of Dermatology, University of Padua, Via Gallucci 4, 35128, Padua, Italy.
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18
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Beyond Genetics: Metastasis as an Adaptive Response in Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116271. [PMID: 35682953 PMCID: PMC9181003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic disease represents the primary cause of breast cancer (BC) mortality, yet it is still one of the most enigmatic processes in the biology of this tumor. Metastatic progression includes distinct phases: invasion, intravasation, hematogenous dissemination, extravasation and seeding at distant sites, micro-metastasis formation and metastatic outgrowth. Whole-genome sequencing analyses of primary BC and metastases revealed that BC metastatization is a non-genetically selected trait, rather the result of transcriptional and metabolic adaptation to the unfavorable microenvironmental conditions which cancer cells are exposed to (e.g., hypoxia, low nutrients, endoplasmic reticulum stress and chemotherapy administration). In this regard, the latest multi-omics analyses unveiled intra-tumor phenotypic heterogeneity, which determines the polyclonal nature of breast tumors and constitutes a challenge for clinicians, correlating with patient poor prognosis. The present work reviews BC classification and epidemiology, focusing on the impact of metastatic disease on patient prognosis and survival, while describing general principles and current in vitro/in vivo models of the BC metastatic cascade. The authors address here both genetic and phenotypic intrinsic heterogeneity of breast tumors, reporting the latest studies that support the role of the latter in metastatic spreading. Finally, the review illustrates the mechanisms underlying adaptive stress responses during BC metastatic progression.
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19
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Souto EP, Dobrolecki LE, Villanueva H, Sikora AG, Lewis MT. In Vivo Modeling of Human Breast Cancer Using Cell Line and Patient-Derived Xenografts. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2022; 27:211-230. [PMID: 35697909 PMCID: PMC9433358 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-022-09520-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Historically, human breast cancer has been modeled largely in vitro using long-established cell lines primarily in two-dimensional culture, but also in three-dimensional cultures of varying cellular and molecular complexities. A subset of cell line models has also been used in vivo as cell line-derived xenografts (CDX). While outstanding for conducting detailed molecular analysis of regulatory mechanisms that may function in vivo, results of drug response studies using long-established cell lines have largely failed to translate clinically. In an attempt to address this shortcoming, many laboratories have succeeded in developing clinically annotated patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of human cancers, including breast, in a variety of host systems. While immunocompromised mice are the predominant host, the immunocompromised rat and pig, zebrafish, as well as the chicken egg chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) have also emerged as potential host platforms to help address perceived shortcomings of immunocompromised mice. With any modeling platform, the two main issues to be resolved are criteria for "credentialing" the models as valid models to represent human cancer, and utility with respect to the ability to generate clinically relevant translational research data. Such data are beginning to emerge, particularly with the activities of PDX consortia such as the NCI PDXNet Program, EuroPDX, and the International Breast Cancer Consortium, as well as a host of pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations (CRO). This review focuses primarily on these important aspects of PDX-related research, with a focus on breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric P Souto
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Lacey E Dobrolecki
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hugo Villanueva
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Andrew G Sikora
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Michael T Lewis
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Radiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, BCM-600; Room N1210, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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20
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Sarmiento BE, Callegari S, Ghotme KA, Akle V. Patient-Derived Xenotransplant of CNS Neoplasms in Zebrafish: A Systematic Review. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071204. [PMID: 35406768 PMCID: PMC8998145 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma and neuroblastoma are the most common central nervous system malignant tumors in adult and pediatric populations. Both are associated with poor survival. These tumors are highly heterogeneous, having complex interactions among different cells within the tumor and with the tumor microenvironment. One of the main challenges in the neuro-oncology field is achieving optimal conditions to evaluate a tumor’s molecular genotype and phenotype. In this respect, the zebrafish biological model is becoming an excellent alternative for studying carcinogenic processes and discovering new treatments. This review aimed to describe the results of xenotransplantation of patient-derived CNS tumors in zebrafish models. The reviewed studies show that it is possible to maintain glioblastoma and neuroblastoma primary cell cultures and transplant the cells into zebrafish embryos. The zebrafish is a suitable biological model for understanding tumor progression and the effects of different treatments. This model offers new perspectives in providing personalized care and improving outcomes for patients living with central nervous system tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz E. Sarmiento
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 11711, Colombia; (B.E.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Santiago Callegari
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 11711, Colombia; (B.E.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Kemel A. Ghotme
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá 111071, Colombia;
- Translational Neuroscience Research Lab, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía 250001, Colombia
| | - Veronica Akle
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 11711, Colombia; (B.E.S.); (S.C.)
- Correspondence:
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21
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Costa B, Estrada MF, Barroso MT, Fior R. Zebrafish Patient-Derived Avatars from Digestive Cancers for Anti-cancer Therapy Screening. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e415. [PMID: 35436037 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), also called "avatars," are generated by the implantation of human primary tumor cells or tissues into a host animal. Given the complexity and unique characteristics of each tumor, PDXs are models of choice in cancer research and precision medicine. In this context, the zebrafish PDX model (zPDX or zAvatar) has been recognized as a promising in vivo model to directly challenge patient cells with anti-cancer therapies in a personalized manner. The assay relies on the injection of tumor cells from patients into zebrafish embryos to then test and identify the best available drug combination for a particular patient. Compared to mouse PDXs, zAvatar assays take less time and do not require in vitro or in vivo cell expansion. The present article describes how to generate zAvatars from resected digestive cancer from surgeries and how to then use them for anti-cancer therapy screening. We describe the steps for tumor sample collection and cryopreservation, sample preparation and fluorescent labeling for microinjection into zebrafish embryos, drug administration, and analysis of tumor behavior by single-cell confocal imaging. We provide detailed protocols and helpful tips for performing this assay, and we address the technical challenges associated with the workflow. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Patient tumor sample collection and cryopreservation Basic Protocol 2: Generation of zAvatars and anti-cancer treatment Basic Protocol 3: Whole-mount immunofluorescence Basic Protocol 4: Confocal imaging and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Costa
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Research, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta F Estrada
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Research, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Rita Fior
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Research, Lisbon, Portugal
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22
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Somasagara RR, Leung T. Zebrafish Xenograft Model to Study Human Cancer. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2413:45-53. [PMID: 35044653 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1896-7_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish, Danio rerio, has been an important animal model for cancer research over the last decade. The capability of a high-throughput screen in zebrafish and a wide range of pharmacologically active compounds elicit physiological responses in zebrafish embryos comparable to those in mammalian systems, making zebrafish ideal for identifying clinically relevant drug targets and compounds that regulate tumor progression. The zebrafish model is suitable for patient-derived xenograft (pdx) and large-scale screening of lead compounds against specific malignancies. This established vertebrate model has many advantages, including fast response time, cost efficiency for drug testing, efficient manipulation of the host microenvironment by genetic tools, suitable for small molecule drug screening in high-throughput setting, easy maintenance, transparency for easy observation, high fecundity, and rapid generation time. The zebrafish model is a good alternative in vivo model to mammals for robust testing of drug candidates for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranganatha R Somasagara
- The Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - TinChung Leung
- The Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, USA. .,Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA.
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23
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Karas BF, Hotz JM, Gural BM, Terez KR, DiBona VL, Côrte-Real L, Valente A, Buckley BT, Cooper KR. Anticancer Activity and In Vitro to In Vivo Mechanistic Recapitulation of Novel Ruthenium-Based Metallodrugs in the Zebrafish Model. Toxicol Sci 2021; 182:29-43. [PMID: 33822233 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ruthenium is popular as a metal core for chemotherapeutics, due to versatile molecular coordination. Because new metallodrugs are synthesized at high rates, our studies included assays in zebrafish to expedite the initial evaluation as anticancer agents. Here we evaluated novel metallodrugs (PMC79 and LCR134), and cisplatin, a widely used platinum-based chemotherapeutic. We hypothesized that this model could characterize anticancer properties and recapitulate previous in vitro results in vivo. Our findings suggest anticancer properties of PMC79 and LCR134 were similar with less toxicity than cisplatin. Exposures from 24 to 72 h at or below the LOAELs of PMC79 and LCR134 (3.9 µM and 13.5 µm, respectively), impaired blood vessel development and tailfin regeneration. Blood vessel examination through live imaging of larvae revealed distinct regional antiangiogenic impacts. The significant decrease in gene expression of the VEGF-HIF pathway and beta-actin could explain the morphological effects observed in the whole organism following exposure. Tailfin amputation in larvae exposed to PMC79 or LCR134 inhibited tissue regrowth and cell division, but did not impact normal cell proliferation unlike cisplatin. This suggests Ru drugs may be more selective in targeting cancerous cells than cisplatin. Additionally, in vitro mechanisms were confirmed. PMC79 disrupted cytoskeleton formation in larvae and P-glycoprotein transporters in vivo was inhibited at low doses which could limit off-target effects of chemotherapeutics. Our results demonstrate the value for using the zebrafish in metallodrug research to evaluate mechanisms and off-target effects. In light of the findings reported in this article, future investigation of PMC79 and LCR134 are warranted in higher vertebrate models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany F Karas
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Jordan M Hotz
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, USA.,Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Brian M Gural
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Kristin R Terez
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Victoria L DiBona
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Leonor Côrte-Real
- Centro de Química Estrutural and Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1749-016, Portugal
| | - Andreia Valente
- Centro de Química Estrutural and Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa 1749-016, Portugal
| | - Brian T Buckley
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Keith R Cooper
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08854, USA
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24
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Patton EE, Zon LI, Langenau DM. Zebrafish disease models in drug discovery: from preclinical modelling to clinical trials. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021; 20:611-628. [PMID: 34117457 PMCID: PMC9210578 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00210-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Numerous drug treatments that have recently entered the clinic or clinical trials have their genesis in zebrafish. Zebrafish are well established for their contribution to developmental biology and have now emerged as a powerful preclinical model for human disease, as their disease characteristics, aetiology and progression, and molecular mechanisms are clinically relevant and highly conserved. Zebrafish respond to small molecules and drug treatments at physiologically relevant dose ranges and, when combined with cell-specific or tissue-specific reporters and gene editing technologies, drug activity can be studied at single-cell resolution within the complexity of a whole animal, across tissues and over an extended timescale. These features enable high-throughput and high-content phenotypic drug screening, repurposing of available drugs for personalized and compassionate use, and even the development of new drug classes. Often, drugs and drug leads explored in zebrafish have an inter-organ mechanism of action and would otherwise not be identified through targeted screening approaches. Here, we discuss how zebrafish is an important model for drug discovery, the process of how these discoveries emerge and future opportunities for maximizing zebrafish potential in medical discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Elizabeth Patton
- MRC Human Genetics Unit and Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, Western General Hospital Campus, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - David M Langenau
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
- Center of Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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25
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Pensado-López A, Fernández-Rey J, Reimunde P, Crecente-Campo J, Sánchez L, Torres Andón F. Zebrafish Models for the Safety and Therapeutic Testing of Nanoparticles with a Focus on Macrophages. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11071784. [PMID: 34361170 PMCID: PMC8308170 DOI: 10.3390/nano11071784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
New nanoparticles and biomaterials are increasingly being used in biomedical research for drug delivery, diagnostic applications, or vaccines, and they are also present in numerous commercial products, in the environment and workplaces. Thus, the evaluation of the safety and possible therapeutic application of these nanomaterials has become of foremost importance for the proper progress of nanotechnology. Due to economical and ethical issues, in vitro and in vivo methods are encouraged for the testing of new compounds and/or nanoparticles, however in vivo models are still needed. In this scenario, zebrafish (Danio rerio) has demonstrated potential for toxicological and pharmacological screenings. Zebrafish presents an innate immune system, from early developmental stages, with conserved macrophage phenotypes and functions with respect to humans. This fact, combined with the transparency of zebrafish, the availability of models with fluorescently labelled macrophages, as well as a broad variety of disease models offers great possibilities for the testing of new nanoparticles. Thus, with a particular focus on macrophage-nanoparticle interaction in vivo, here, we review the studies using zebrafish for toxicological and biodistribution testing of nanoparticles, and also the possibilities for their preclinical evaluation in various diseases, including cancer and autoimmune, neuroinflammatory, and infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Pensado-López
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (J.F.-R.)
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine & Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Juan Fernández-Rey
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (J.F.-R.)
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine & Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Pedro Reimunde
- Department of Physiotherapy, Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Universidade da Coruña, Campus de Oza, 15006 A Coruña, Spain;
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti, 27003 Lugo, Spain
| | - José Crecente-Campo
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine & Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (J.F.-R.)
- Correspondence: (L.S.); (F.T.A.)
| | - Fernando Torres Andón
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine & Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Campus Vida, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
- Correspondence: (L.S.); (F.T.A.)
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26
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Durinikova E, Buzo K, Arena S. Preclinical models as patients' avatars for precision medicine in colorectal cancer: past and future challenges. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:185. [PMID: 34090508 PMCID: PMC8178911 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01981-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex and heterogeneous disease, characterized by dismal prognosis and low survival rate in the advanced (metastatic) stage. During the last decade, the establishment of novel preclinical models, leading to the generation of translational discovery and validation platforms, has opened up a new scenario for the clinical practice of CRC patients. To bridge the results developed at the bench with the medical decision process, the ideal model should be easily scalable, reliable to predict treatment responses, and flexibly adapted for various applications in the research. As such, the improved benefit of novel therapies being tested initially on valuable and reproducible preclinical models would lie in personalized treatment recommendations based on the biology and genomics of the patient's tumor with the overall aim to avoid overtreatment and unnecessary toxicity. In this review, we summarize different in vitro and in vivo models, which proved efficacy in detection of novel CRC culprits and shed light into the biology and therapy of this complex disease. Even though cell lines and patient-derived xenografts remain the mainstay of colorectal cancer research, the field has been confidently shifting to the use of organoids as the most relevant preclinical model. Prioritization of organoids is supported by increasing body of evidence that these represent excellent tools worth further therapeutic explorations. In addition, novel preclinical models such as zebrafish avatars are emerging as useful tools for pharmacological interrogation. Finally, all available models represent complementary tools that can be utilized for precision medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Durinikova
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Strada Provinciale 142, Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, TO, Italy
| | - Kristi Buzo
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Strada Provinciale 142, Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, TO, Italy
| | - Sabrina Arena
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Strada Provinciale 142, Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, TO, Italy.
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Strada Provinciale 142, Km 3.95, 10060, Candiolo, TO, Italy.
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27
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Zhang K, Liu D, Zhao J, Shi S, He X, Da P, You Y, You B. Nuclear exosome HMGB3 secreted by nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells promotes tumour metastasis by inducing angiogenesis. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:554. [PMID: 34050127 PMCID: PMC8163785 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03845-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Distant metastasis accompanied by angiogenesis is the main cause of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)-related death. Nuclear exosomes (nEXOs) are potential tumour biomarkers. High mobility group box 3 (HMGB3), a nuclear protein, is known to be overexpressed in cancers. However, its role in NPC has not been elucidated. Here, we explore for the first time the function of nEXO HMGB3 in tumour angiogenesis involved in NPC metastasis using a series of in vitro experiments with NPC cell lines and clinical specimens and in vivo experiments with tumour xenograft zebrafish angiogenesis model. We found a high expression of HMGB3 in NPC, accompanied by the formation of micronuclei, to be associated with metastasis. Furthermore, the NPC-secreted HMGB3 expression was associated with tumour angiogenesis. Moreover, HMGB3-containing nEXOs, derived from the micronuclei of NPC cells, were ingested by the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and accelerated angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, western blotting and flow cytometry analysis showed that circulating nEXO HMGB3 positively correlated with NPC metastasis. In summary, nEXO HMGB3 can be a significant biomarker of NPC metastasis and provide a novel basis for anti-angiogenesis therapy in clinical metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiwen Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China.,Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Dong Liu
- School of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Jianmei Zhao
- Molecular Detection Center, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China.,Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xin He
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Peng Da
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China.,Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yiwen You
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China. .,Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Bo You
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China. .,Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Xisi Road 20, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu Province, China.
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28
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Zampedri C, Martínez-Flores WA, Melendez-Zajgla J. The Use of Zebrafish Xenotransplant Assays to Analyze the Role of lncRNAs in Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:687594. [PMID: 34123857 PMCID: PMC8190406 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.687594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer represents a great challenge since it is the first cause of death by cancer in women worldwide. LncRNAs are a newly described class of non-coding RNAs that participate in cancer progression. Their use as cancer markers and possible therapeutic targets has recently gained strength. Animal xenotransplants allows for in vivo monitoring of disease development, molecular elucidation of pathogenesis and the design of new therapeutic strategies. Nevertheless, the cost and complexities of mice husbandry makes medium to high throughput assays difficult. Zebrafishes (Danio rerio) represent a novel model for these assays, given the ease with which xenotransplantation trials can be performed and the economic and experimental advantages it offers. In this review we propose the use of xenotransplants in zebrafish to study the role of breast cancer lncRNAs using low to medium high throughput assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Zampedri
- Functional Genomics Laboratories, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genomica, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Jorge Melendez-Zajgla
- Functional Genomics Laboratories, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genomica, Mexico City, Mexico
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29
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Okuda KS, Keyser MS, Gurevich DB, Sturtzel C, Mason EA, Paterson S, Chen H, Scott M, Condon ND, Martin P, Distel M, Hogan BM. Live-imaging of endothelial Erk activity reveals dynamic and sequential signalling events during regenerative angiogenesis. eLife 2021; 10:62196. [PMID: 34003110 PMCID: PMC8175085 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of new blood vessel networks occurs via angiogenesis during development, tissue repair, and disease. Angiogenesis is regulated by intracellular endothelial signalling pathways, induced downstream of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors (VEGFRs). A major challenge in understanding angiogenesis is interpreting how signalling events occur dynamically within endothelial cell populations during sprouting, proliferation, and migration. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) is a central downstream effector of Vegf-signalling and reports the signalling that drives angiogenesis. We generated a vascular Erk biosensor transgenic line in zebrafish using a kinase translocation reporter that allows live-imaging of Erk-signalling dynamics. We demonstrate the utility of this line to live-image Erk activity during physiologically relevant angiogenic events. Further, we reveal dynamic and sequential endothelial cell Erk-signalling events following blood vessel wounding. Initial signalling is dependent upon Ca2+ in the earliest responding endothelial cells, but is independent of Vegfr-signalling and local inflammation. The sustained regenerative response, however, involves a Vegfr-dependent mechanism that initiates concomitantly with the wound inflammatory response. This work reveals a highly dynamic sequence of signalling events in regenerative angiogenesis and validates a new resource for the study of vascular Erk-signalling in real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide S Okuda
- Organogenesis and Cancer Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Mikaela S Keyser
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, St Lucia, Australia
| | - David B Gurevich
- School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Caterina Sturtzel
- Innovative Cancer Models, St Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria.,Zebrafish Platform Austria for preclinical drug screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Elizabeth A Mason
- Organogenesis and Cancer Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Scott Paterson
- Organogenesis and Cancer Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Huijun Chen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Mark Scott
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Nicholas D Condon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Paul Martin
- School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Distel
- Innovative Cancer Models, St Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria.,Zebrafish Platform Austria for preclinical drug screening (ZANDR), Vienna, Austria
| | - Benjamin M Hogan
- Organogenesis and Cancer Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, St Lucia, Australia
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30
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Basnet RM, Zizioli D, Muscò A, Finazzi D, Sigala S, Rossini E, Tobia C, Guerra J, Presta M, Memo M. Caffeine Inhibits Direct and Indirect Angiogenesis in Zebrafish Embryos. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094856. [PMID: 34063734 PMCID: PMC8124397 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we report the effects of caffeine on angiogenesis in zebrafish embryos both during normal development and after exposure to Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2). As markers of angiogenesis, we measured the length and width of intersegmental vessels (ISVs), performed whole-mount in situ hybridization with fli1 and cadh5 vascular markers, and counted the number of interconnecting vessels (ICVs) in sub-intestinal venous plexus (SIVP). In addition, we measured angiogenesis after performing zebrafish yolk membrane (ZFYM) assay with microinjection of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and perivitelline tumor xenograft assay with microinjection of tumorigenic FGF2-overexpressing endothelial (FGF2-T-MAE) cells. The results showed that caffeine treatment causes a shortening and thinning of ISVs along with a decreased expression of the vascular marker genes and a decrease in the number of ICVs in the SIVP. Caffeine was also able to block angiogenesis induced by exogenous FGF2 or FGF2-producing cells. Overall, our results are suggestive of the inhibitory effect of caffeine in both direct and indirect angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ram Manohar Basnet
- Unit of Pharmacology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (R.M.B.); (A.M.); (S.S.); (E.R.)
| | - Daniela Zizioli
- Unit of Biotechnology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (D.Z.); (D.F.)
| | - Alessia Muscò
- Unit of Pharmacology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (R.M.B.); (A.M.); (S.S.); (E.R.)
| | - Dario Finazzi
- Unit of Biotechnology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (D.Z.); (D.F.)
- Laboratorio Centrale Analisi Chimico-Cliniche, ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Sandra Sigala
- Unit of Pharmacology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (R.M.B.); (A.M.); (S.S.); (E.R.)
| | - Elisa Rossini
- Unit of Pharmacology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (R.M.B.); (A.M.); (S.S.); (E.R.)
| | - Chiara Tobia
- Unit of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.T.); (J.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Jessica Guerra
- Unit of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.T.); (J.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Marco Presta
- Unit of Experimental Oncology and Immunology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (C.T.); (J.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Maurizio Memo
- Unit of Pharmacology, DMMT, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (R.M.B.); (A.M.); (S.S.); (E.R.)
- Correspondence:
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31
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Gamble JT, Elson DJ, Greenwood JA, Tanguay RL, Kolluri SK. The Zebrafish Xenograft Models for Investigating Cancer and Cancer Therapeutics. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10040252. [PMID: 33804830 PMCID: PMC8063817 DOI: 10.3390/biology10040252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary The identification and development of new anti-cancer drugs requires extensive testing in animal models to establish safety and efficacy of drug candidates. The transplantation of human tumor tissue into mouse (tumor xenografts) is commonly used to study cancer progression and to test potential drugs for their anti-cancer activity. Mouse models do not afford the ability to test a large number of drug candidates quickly as it takes several weeks to conduct these experiments. In contrast, tumor xenograft studies in zebrafish provide an efficient platform for rapid testing of safety and efficacy in less than two weeks. Abstract In order to develop new cancer therapeutics, rapid, reliable, and relevant biological models are required to screen and validate drug candidates for both efficacy and safety. In recent years, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as an excellent model organism suited for these goals. Larval fish or immunocompromised adult fish are used to engraft human cancer cells and serve as a platform for screening potential drug candidates. With zebrafish sharing ~80% of disease-related orthologous genes with humans, they provide a low cost, high-throughput alternative to mouse xenografts that is relevant to human biology. In this review, we provide background on the methods and utility of zebrafish xenograft models in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T. Gamble
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Daniel J. Elson
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Juliet A. Greenwood
- School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Scotsdale, AZ 85257, USA;
| | - Robyn L. Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Siva K. Kolluri
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
- Correspondence:
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Vandetanib versus Cabozantinib in Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Focus on Anti-Angiogenic Effects in Zebrafish Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063031. [PMID: 33809722 PMCID: PMC8002338 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a tumor deriving from the thyroid C cells. Vandetanib (VAN) and cabozantinib (CAB) are two tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting REarranged during Transfection (RET) and other kinase receptors and are approved for the treatment of advanced MTC. We aim to compare the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity of VAN and CAB in MTC. The effects of VAN and CAB on viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis of TT and MZ-CRC-1 cells are evaluated in vitro using an MTT assay, DNA flow cytometry with propidium iodide, and Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining, respectively. In vivo, the anti-angiogenic potential of VAN and CAB is evaluated in Tg(fli1a:EGFP)y1 transgenic fluorescent zebrafish embryos by analyzing the effects on the physiological development of the sub-intestinal vein plexus and the tumor-induced angiogenesis after TT and MZ-CRC-1 xenotransplantation. VAN and CAB exert comparable effects on TT and MZ-CRC-1 viability inhibition and cell cycle perturbation, and stimulated apoptosis with a prominent effect by VAN in MZ-CRC-1 and CAB in TT cells. Regarding zebrafish, both drugs inhibit angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner, in particular CAB shows a more potent anti-angiogenic activity than VAN. To conclude, although VAN and CAB show comparable antiproliferative effects in MTC, the anti-angiogenic activity of CAB appears to be more relevant.
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Somasagara RR, Huang X, Xu C, Haider J, Serody JS, Armistead PM, Leung T. Targeted therapy of human leukemia xenografts in immunodeficient zebrafish. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5715. [PMID: 33707624 PMCID: PMC7952715 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85141-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Personalized medicine holds tremendous promise for improving safety and efficacy of drug therapies by optimizing treatment regimens. Rapidly developed patient-derived xenografts (pdx) could be a helpful tool for analyzing the effect of drugs against an individual's tumor by growing the tumor in an immunodeficient animal. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice enable efficient in vivo expansion of vital tumor cells and generation of personalized xenografts. However, they are not amenable to large-scale rapid screening, which is critical in identifying new compounds from large compound libraries. The development of a zebrafish model suitable for pdx could facilitate large-scale screening of drugs targeted against specific malignancies. Here, we describe a novel strategy for establishing a zebrafish model for drug testing in leukemia xenografts. We used chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia for xenotransplantation into SCID zebrafish to evaluate drug screening protocols. We showed the in vivo efficacy of the ABL inhibitor imatinib, MEK inhibitor U0126, cytarabine, azacitidine and arsenic trioxide. We performed corresponding in vitro studies, demonstrating that combination of MEK- and FLT3-inhibitors exhibit an enhanced effect in vitro. We further evaluated the feasibility of zebrafish for transplantation of primary human hematopoietic cells that can survive at 15 day-post-fertilization. Our results provide critical insights to guide development of high-throughput platforms for evaluating leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranganatha R Somasagara
- The Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Huang
- The Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
| | - Chunyu Xu
- The Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
| | - Jamil Haider
- The Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
| | - Jonathan S Serody
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Paul M Armistead
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - TinChung Leung
- The Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA. .,Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, 27707, USA.
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Reimunde P, Pensado-López A, Carreira Crende M, Lombao Iglesias V, Sánchez L, Torrecilla-Parra M, Ramírez CM, Anfray C, Torres Andón F. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Glioblastoma and Zebrafish Models for the Discovery of New Treatments. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1087. [PMID: 33802571 PMCID: PMC7961726 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common of all brain malignant tumors; it displays a median survival of 14.6 months with current complete standard treatment. High heterogeneity, aggressive and invasive behavior, the impossibility of completing tumor resection, limitations for drug administration and therapeutic resistance to current treatments are the main problems presented by this pathology. In recent years, our knowledge of GBM physiopathology has advanced significantly, generating relevant information on the cellular heterogeneity of GBM tumors, including cancer and immune cells such as macrophages/microglia, genetic, epigenetic and metabolic alterations, comprising changes in miRNA expression. In this scenario, the zebrafish has arisen as a promising animal model to progress further due to its unique characteristics, such as transparency, ease of genetic manipulation, ethical and economic advantages and also conservation of the major brain regions and blood-brain-barrier (BBB) which are similar to a human structure. A few papers described in this review, using genetic and xenotransplantation zebrafish models have been used to study GBM as well as to test the anti-tumoral efficacy of new drugs, their ability to interact with target cells, modulate the tumor microenvironment, cross the BBB and/or their toxicity. Prospective studies following these lines of research may lead to a better diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Reimunde
- Department of Medicine, Campus de Oza, Universidade da Coruña, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti, 27003 Lugo, Spain
| | - Alba Pensado-López
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (M.C.C.); (V.L.I.); (L.S.)
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Martín Carreira Crende
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (M.C.C.); (V.L.I.); (L.S.)
| | - Vanesa Lombao Iglesias
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (M.C.C.); (V.L.I.); (L.S.)
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Campus de Lugo, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.P.-L.); (M.C.C.); (V.L.I.); (L.S.)
| | - Marta Torrecilla-Parra
- IMDEA Research Institute of Food and Health Sciences, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (M.T.-P.); (C.M.R.)
| | - Cristina M. Ramírez
- IMDEA Research Institute of Food and Health Sciences, 28049 Madrid, Spain; (M.T.-P.); (C.M.R.)
| | - Clément Anfray
- IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Via A. Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy;
| | - Fernando Torres Andón
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Via A. Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy;
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Chen X, Li Y, Yao T, Jia R. Benefits of Zebrafish Xenograft Models in Cancer Research. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:616551. [PMID: 33644052 PMCID: PMC7905065 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.616551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
As a promising in vivo tool for cancer research, zebrafish have been widely applied in various tumor studies. The zebrafish xenograft model is a low-cost, high-throughput tool for cancer research that can be established quickly and requires only a small sample size, which makes it favorite among researchers. Zebrafish patient-derived xenograft (zPDX) models provide promising evidence for short-term clinical treatment. In this review, we discuss the characteristics and advantages of zebrafish, such as their transparent and translucent features, the use of vascular fluorescence imaging, the establishment of metastatic and intracranial orthotopic models, individual pharmacokinetics measurements, and tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we introduce how these characteristics and advantages are applied other in tumor studies. Finally, we discuss the future direction of the use of zebrafish in tumor studies and provide new ideas for the application of it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongyun Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Tengteng Yao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
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Amawi H, Aljabali AAA, Boddu SHS, Amawi S, Obeid MA, Ashby CR, Tiwari AK. The use of zebrafish model in prostate cancer therapeutic development and discovery. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 87:311-325. [PMID: 33392639 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-020-04211-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish is now among the leading in vivo model for cancer research, including prostate cancer. They are an alternative economic model being used to study cancer development, proliferation, and metastasis. They can also be effectively utilized for the development of cancer drugs at all levels, including target validation, and high-throughput screening for possible lead molecules. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the role of zebrafish as an in vivo model in prostate cancer research. Globally, prostate cancer is a leading cause of death in men. Although many molecular mechanisms have been identified as playing a role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer, there is still a significant need to understand the initial events of the disease. Furthermore, current treatments are limited by the emergence of severe toxicities and multidrug resistance. There is an essential need for economical and relevant research tools to improve our understanding and overcome these problems. This review provides a comprehensive summary of studies that utilized zebrafish for different aims in prostate cancer research. We discuss the use of zebrafish in prostate cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, defining signaling pathways, drug discovery and therapeutic development against prostate cancer, and toxicity studies. Finally, this review highlights limitations in this field and future directions to efficiently use zebrafish as a robust model for prostate cancer therapeutics development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haneen Amawi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, P.O.BOX 566, Irbid, 21163, Jordan.
| | - Alaa A A Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Sai H S Boddu
- College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, UAE
| | - Sadam Amawi
- Department of Urology and General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdullah University Hospital, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Mohammad A Obeid
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Charles R Ashby
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, USA
| | - Amit K Tiwari
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
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Studying the Tumor Microenvironment in Zebrafish. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1329:69-92. [PMID: 34664234 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-73119-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment significantly contributes to tumor initiation, progression, neo-angiogenesis, and metastasis, and a better understanding of the role of the different cellular players would facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Towards this goal, intravital imaging is a powerful method to unravel interaction partners of tumor cells. Among vertebrate model organisms, zebrafish is uniquely suited for in vivo imaging studies. In recent years zebrafish has also become a valuable model in cancer research. In this chapter, we will summarize, how zebrafish has been used to characterize cells of the tumor microenvironment. We will cover both genetically engineered cancer models and xenograft models in zebrafish. The majority of work has been done on the role of innate immune cells and their role during tumor initiation and metastasis, but we will also cover studies focusing on adipocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Taken together, we will highlight the versatile use of the zebrafish model for in vivo tumor microenvironment studies.
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38
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Recording Channelrhodopsin-Evoked Field Potentials and Startle Responses from Larval Zebrafish. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2191:201-220. [PMID: 32865747 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0830-2_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish are an excellent model organism to study many aspects of vertebrate sensory encoding and behavior. Their escape responses begin with a C-shaped body bend followed by several swimming bouts away from the potentially threatening stimulus. This highly stereotyped motor behavior provides a model for studying startle reflexes and the neural circuitry underlying multisensory encoding and locomotion. Channelrhodopsin (ChR2) can be expressed in the lateral line and ear hair cells of zebrafish and can be excited in vivo to elicit these rapid forms of escape. Here we review our methods for studying transgenic ChR2-expressing zebrafish larvae, including screening for positive expression of ChR2 and recording field potentials and high-speed videos of optically evoked escape responses. We also highlight important features of the acquired data and provide a brief review of other zebrafish research that utilizes or has the potential to benefit from ChR2 and optogenetics.
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39
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Cabezas-Sáinz P, Pensado-López A, Sáinz B, Sánchez L. Modeling Cancer Using Zebrafish Xenografts: Drawbacks for Mimicking the Human Microenvironment. Cells 2020; 9:E1978. [PMID: 32867288 PMCID: PMC7564051 DOI: 10.3390/cells9091978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The first steps towards establishing xenografts in zebrafish embryos were performed by Lee et al., 2005 and Haldi et al., 2006, paving the way for studying human cancers using this animal species. Since then, the xenograft technique has been improved in different ways, ranging from optimizing the best temperature for xenografted embryo incubation, testing different sites for injection of human tumor cells, and even developing tools to study how the host interacts with the injected cells. Nonetheless, a standard protocol for performing xenografts has not been adopted across laboratories, and further research on the temperature, microenvironment of the tumor or the cell-host interactions inside of the embryo during xenografting is still needed. As a consequence, current non-uniform conditions could be affecting experimental results in terms of cell proliferation, invasion, or metastasis; or even overestimating the effects of some chemotherapeutic drugs on xenografted cells. In this review, we highlight and raise awareness regarding the different aspects of xenografting that need to be improved in order to mimic, in a more efficient way, the human tumor microenvironment, resulting in more robust and accurate in vivo results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Cabezas-Sáinz
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (P.C.-S.); (A.P.-L.)
| | - Alba Pensado-López
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (P.C.-S.); (A.P.-L.)
- Genomic Medicine Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Bruno Sáinz
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols” CSIC-UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Arzobispo Morcillo 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Cancer Stem Cell and Fibroinflammatory Microenvironment Group, Chronic Diseases and Cancer Area 3-Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Campus de Lugo, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (P.C.-S.); (A.P.-L.)
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Long-term in vivo imaging reveals tumor-specific dissemination and captures host tumor interaction in zebrafish xenografts. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13254. [PMID: 32764590 PMCID: PMC7411039 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69956-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding mechanisms mediating tumor metastasis is crucial for diagnostic and therapeutic targeting. Here, we take advantage of a transparent embryonic zebrafish xenograft model (eZXM) to visualize and track metastatic cells in real time using selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) for up to 30 h. Injected human leukemic and breast cancer cells exhibited cell-type specific patterns of intravascular distribution with leukemic cells moving faster than breast cancer cells. Tracking of tumor cells from high-resolution images revealed acute differences in intravascular speed and distance covered by cells. While the majority of injected breast cancer cells predominantly adhered to nearby vasculature, about 30% invaded the non-vascularized tissue, reminiscent of their metastatic phenotype. Survival of the injected tumor cells appeared to be partially inhibited and time-lapse imaging showed a possible role for host macrophages of the recipient embryos. Leukemic cell dissemination could be effectively blocked by pharmacological ROCK1 inhibition using Fasudil. These observations, and the ability to image several embryos simultaneously, support the use of eZXM and SPIM imaging as a functional screening platform to identify compounds that suppress cancer cell spread and invasion.
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Abstract
Metastasis, the dispersal of cancer cells from a primary tumor to secondary sites within the body, is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Animal models have been an indispensable tool to investigate the complex interactions between the cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment during the metastatic cascade. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a powerful vertebrate model for studying metastatic events in vivo. The zebrafish has many attributes including ex-utero development, which facilitates embryonic manipulation, as well as optically transparent tissues, which enables in vivo imaging of fluorescently labeled cells in real time. Here, we summarize the techniques which have been used to study cancer biology and metastasis in the zebrafish model organism, including genetic manipulation and transgenesis, cell transplantation, live imaging, and high-throughput compound screening. Finally, we discuss studies using the zebrafish, which have complemented and benefited metastasis research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy R Astell
- The Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
| | - Dirk Sieger
- The Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
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Kocere A, Resseguier J, Wohlmann J, Skjeldal FM, Khan S, Speth M, Dal NJK, Ng MYW, Alonso-Rodriguez N, Scarpa E, Rizzello L, Battaglia G, Griffiths G, Fenaroli F. Real-time imaging of polymersome nanoparticles in zebrafish embryos engrafted with melanoma cancer cells: Localization, toxicity and treatment analysis. EBioMedicine 2020; 58:102902. [PMID: 32707448 PMCID: PMC7381511 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The developing zebrafish is an emerging tool in nanomedicine, allowing non-invasive live imaging of the whole animal at higher resolution than is possible in the more commonly used mouse models. In addition, several transgenic fish lines are available endowed with selected cell types expressing fluorescent proteins; this allows nanoparticles to be visualized together with host cells. METHODS Here, we introduce the zebrafish neural tube as a robust injection site for cancer cells, excellently suited for high resolution imaging. We use light and electron microscopy to evaluate cancer growth and to follow the fate of intravenously injected nanoparticles. FINDINGS Fluorescently labelled mouse melanoma B16 cells, when injected into this structure proliferated rapidly and stimulated angiogenesis of new vessels. In addition, macrophages, but not neutrophils, selectively accumulated in the tumour region. When injected intravenously, nanoparticles made of Cy5-labelled poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(2-(diisopropyl amino) ethyl methacrylate) (PEG-PDPA) selectively accumulated in the neural tube cancer region and were seen in individual cancer cells and tumour associated macrophages. Moreover, when doxorubicin was released from PEG-PDPA, in a pH dependant manner, these nanoparticles could strongly reduce toxicity and improve the treatment outcome compared to the free drug in zebrafish xenotransplanted with mouse melanoma B16 or human derived melanoma cells. INTERPRETATION The zebrafish has the potential of becoming an important intermediate step, before the mouse model, for testing nanomedicines against patient-derived cancer cells. FUNDING We received funding from the Norwegian research council and the Norwegian cancer society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnese Kocere
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Blindernveien 31, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | - Julien Resseguier
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Blindernveien 31, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jens Wohlmann
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Blindernveien 31, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Shanawaz Khan
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Blindernveien 31, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | - Martin Speth
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Blindernveien 31, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | | | - Edoardo Scarpa
- University College London, Department of Chemistry, 20 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AJ London, United Kingdom
| | - Loris Rizzello
- University of Milan, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan (Italy); Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona (Spain)
| | - Giuseppe Battaglia
- University College London, Department of Chemistry, 20 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AJ London, United Kingdom; Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac 10-12, 08028 Barcelona (Spain); Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, London, United Kingdom; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 2308010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gareth Griffiths
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Blindernveien 31, 0371 Oslo, Norway
| | - Federico Fenaroli
- University of Oslo, Department of Biosciences, Blindernveien 31, 0371 Oslo, Norway.
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Modeling oncolytic virus dynamics in the tumor microenvironment using zebrafish. Cancer Gene Ther 2020; 28:769-784. [PMID: 32647136 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-020-0194-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We have adapted a zebrafish (Danio rerio) tumor xenograft model for use in the study of oncolytic virotherapy. Following implantation of mammalian cancer cells into the perivitelline space of developing zebrafish embryos, both local and intravenous oncolytic virus treatments produce a tumor-specific infection with measurable antitumor effects. Tumor cells are injected at 48 h post fertilization, with oncolytic virus treatment then being administered 24 h later to allow for an initial period of tumor development and angiogenesis. Confocal fluorescent imaging is used to quantify dynamics within the tumor environment. The natural translucency of zebrafish at the embryo stage, coupled with the availability of strains with fluorescent immune and endothelial cell reporter lines, gives the model broad potential to allow for real time, in vivo investigation of important events within tumors throughout the course of virotherapy. Zebrafish xenografts offer a system with biologic fidelity to processes in human cancer development that influence oncolytic virus efficacy, and to our knowledge this is the first demonstration of the model's use in the context of virotherapy. Compared with other models, our protocol offers a powerful, inexpensive approach to evaluating novel oncolytic viruses and oncolytic virus-based combination therapies, with potential application to investigating the impacts of virotherapy on immune response, tumor vasculature, and metastatic disease.
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Zebrafish xenografts as a fast screening platform for bevacizumab cancer therapy. Commun Biol 2020; 3:299. [PMID: 32523131 PMCID: PMC7286887 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1015-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite promising preclinical results, average response rates to anti-VEGF therapies, such as bevacizumab, are reduced for most cancers, while incurring in remarkable costs and side effects. Currently, there are no biomarkers available to select patients that can benefit from this therapy. Depending on the individual tumor, anti-VEGF therapies can either block or promote metastasis. In this context, an assay able to predict individual responses prior to treatment, including the impact on metastasis would prove of great value to guide treatment options. Here we show that zebrafish xenografts are able to reveal different responses to bevacizumab in just 4 days, evaluating not only individual tumor responses but also the impact on angiogenesis and micrometastasis. Importantly, we perform proof-of-concept experiments where clinical responses in patients were compared with their matching zebrafish Patient-Derived Xenografts - zAvatars, opening the possibility of using the zebrafish model to screen bevacizumab therapy in a personalized manner. Rebelo de Almeida et al. describe the application of zebrafish tumor xenografts (zAvatars) to analyse the efficacy of bevacizumab (FDA approved drug) to treat cancer patients with highly variable outcomes. The authors suggest that these zAvatars could be used as a predictive model to determine whether or not bevacizumab treatment would be efficient for individual patients.
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Fazio M, Ablain J, Chuan Y, Langenau DM, Zon LI. Zebrafish patient avatars in cancer biology and precision cancer therapy. Nat Rev Cancer 2020; 20:263-273. [PMID: 32251397 PMCID: PMC8011456 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-020-0252-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In precision oncology, two major strategies are being pursued for predicting clinically relevant tumour behaviours, such as treatment response and emergence of drug resistance: inference based on genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic and/or proteomic analysis of patient samples, and phenotypic assays in personalized cancer avatars. The latter approach has historically relied on in vivo mouse xenografts and in vitro organoids or 2D cell cultures. Recent progress in rapid combinatorial genetic modelling, the development of a genetically immunocompromised strain for xenotransplantation of human patient samples in adult zebrafish and the first clinical trial using xenotransplantation in zebrafish larvae for phenotypic testing of drug response bring this tiny vertebrate to the forefront of the precision medicine arena. In this Review, we discuss advances in transgenic and transplantation-based zebrafish cancer avatars, and how these models compare with and complement mouse xenografts and human organoids. We also outline the unique opportunities that these different models present for prediction studies and current challenges they face for future clinical deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Fazio
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julien Ablain
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yan Chuan
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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TLD1433 Photosensitizer Inhibits Conjunctival Melanoma Cells in Zebrafish Ectopic and Orthotopic Tumour Models. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030587. [PMID: 32143295 PMCID: PMC7139549 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The ruthenium-based photosensitizer (PS) TLD1433 has completed a phase I clinical trial for photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment of bladder cancer. Here, we investigated a possible repurposing of this drug for treatment of conjunctival melanoma (CM). CM is a rare but often deadly ocular cancer. The efficacy of TLD1433 was tested on several cell lines from CM (CRMM1, CRMM2 and CM2005), uveal melanoma (OMM1, OMM2.5, MEL270), epidermoid carcinoma (A431) and cutaneous melanoma (A375). Using 15 min green light irradiation (21 mW/cm2, 19 J.cm-2, 520 nm), the highest phototherapeutic index (PI) was reached in CM cells, with cell death occurring via apoptosis and necrosis. The therapeutic potential of TLD1433 was hence further validated in zebrafish ectopic and newly-developed orthotopic CM models. Fluorescent CRMM1 and CRMM2 cells were injected into the circulation of zebrafish (ectopic model) or behind the eye (orthotopic model) and 24 h later, the engrafted embryos were treated with the maximally-tolerated dose of TLD1433. The drug was administrated in three ways, either by (i) incubating the fish in drug-containing water (WA), or (ii) injecting the drug intravenously into the fish (IV), or (iii) injecting the drug retro-orbitally (RO) into the fish. Optimally, four consecutive PDT treatments were performed on engrafted embryos using 60 min drug-to-light intervals and 90 min green light irradiation (21 mW/cm2, 114 J.cm-2, 520 nm). This PDT protocol was not toxic to the fish. In the ectopic tumour model, both systemic administration by IV injection and RO injection of TLD1433 significantly inhibited growth of engrafted CRMM1 and CRMM2 cells. However, in the orthotopic model, tumour growth was only attenuated by localized RO injection of TLD1433. These data unequivocally prove that the zebrafish provides a fast vertebrate cancer model that can be used to test the administration regimen, host toxicity and anti-cancer efficacy of PDT drugs against CM. Based on our results, we suggest repurposing of TLD1433 for treatment of incurable CM and further testing in alternative pre-clinical models.
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Zebrafish Avatars towards Personalized Medicine-A Comparative Review between Avatar Models. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020293. [PMID: 31991800 PMCID: PMC7072137 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer frequency and prevalence have been increasing in the past decades, with devastating impacts on patients and their families. Despite the great advances in targeted approaches, there is still a lack of methods to predict individual patient responses, and therefore treatments are tailored according to average response rates. “Omics” approaches are used for patient stratification and choice of therapeutic options towards a more precise medicine. These methods, however, do not consider all genetic and non-genetic dynamic interactions that occur upon drug treatment. Therefore, the need to directly challenge patient cells in a personalized manner remains. The present review addresses the state of the art of patient-derived in vitro and in vivo models, from organoids to mouse and zebrafish Avatars. The predictive power of each model based on the retrospective correlation with the patient clinical outcome will be considered. Finally, the review is focused on the emerging zebrafish Avatars and their unique characteristics allowing a fast analysis of local and systemic effects of drug treatments at the single-cell level. We also address the technical challenges that the field has yet to overcome.
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Laroui N, Cubedo N, Rossel M, Bettache N. Improvement of Cell Penetrating Peptide for Efficient siRNA Targeting of Tumor Xenografts in Zebrafish Embryos. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.201900204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nabila Laroui
- Institut des Biomolécules Max MousseronUMR 5247University of MontpellierCNRSENSCM 15, avenue Charles Flahault, BP14491 F‐34093 Montpellier cedex 5 France
| | - Nicolas Cubedo
- INSERMU1198University of Montpellier F‐34095, Montpellier France
- EPHE 4 rue Ferrus Paris F‐75014 France
| | - Mireille Rossel
- INSERMU1198University of Montpellier F‐34095, Montpellier France
- EPHE 4 rue Ferrus Paris F‐75014 France
| | - Nadir Bettache
- Institut des Biomolécules Max MousseronUMR 5247University of MontpellierCNRSENSCM 15, avenue Charles Flahault, BP14491 F‐34093 Montpellier cedex 5 France
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Kalla D, Kind A, Schnieke A. Genetically Engineered Pigs to Study Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E488. [PMID: 31940967 PMCID: PMC7013672 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent decades have seen groundbreaking advances in cancer research. Genetically engineered animal models, mainly in mice, have contributed to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in cancer. However, mice are not ideal for translating basic research into studies closer to the clinic. There is a need for complementary information provided by non-rodent species. Pigs are well suited for translational biomedical research as they share many similarities with humans such as body and organ size, aspects of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology and can provide valuable means of developing and testing novel diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Porcine oncology is a new field, but it is clear that replication of key oncogenic mutation in pigs can usefully mimic several human cancers. This review briefly outlines the technology used to generate genetically modified pigs, provides an overview of existing cancer models, their applications and how the field may develop in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Angelika Schnieke
- Chair of Livestock Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising, Germany; (D.K.); (A.K.)
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La transplantation de cellules tumorales chez le poisson zèbre : de la recherche translationnelle à la médecine personnalisée. Bull Cancer 2020; 107:30-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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